Kayla Olson is entering her eighth season as head coach of the Big Lake dance team, and her ninth year overall with the team.
“I am also currently serving my first year on the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams (MADT) Board of Directors as I was elected this past spring,” Olson said.
Emily Merkley is entering her fourth year with the team as the Head JV Jazz Coach and is a varsity assistant coach. Madison Wahlberg is entering her third year with the team as Head JV Kick and B-Squad Jazz Coach. Amira Hackensmith joined Olson’s coaching staff this year and will assist JV Kick and B-Squad Jazz.
The 2025-26 roster includes: Senior Alexis Gosewisch - team manager; Senior Amanda Marcks - leadership team; Senior Brooklyn May - leadership team; Senior Audrey Myers - leadership team; Senior Greta Schwirtz - team manager; Senior Alivia Voss - team captain; Senior Maia Wenderski - leadership team; Junior Ruby Blakeney - leadership team; Junior Gillian Harrington; Junior Morgan Panek - team captain; Junior Liliah Schaller - leadership team; Junior Haylee Tough; Sophomore Olivia Aughenbaugh; Sophomore Keziah Awere; Sophomore Jadyn Markfort; Sophomore Bobbi Russ; Sophomore Rae Storland; Freshman Charley Davis; Freshman Emma Goplin; Freshman Elsie Jagusch; Freshman Ainsley McGuire; Freshman Jessica Osowski; Freshman Camryn Spaeth; Freshman Kyla Wenderski; Eighth-grader Maddi Hemauer; Eighth-grader Arlene Kaczor; Eighth-grader Laney Langevin; Eighth-grader Brooke Luoma; Eighth-grader Melany Mitchell; Eighth-grader Sophie Spurgin; Eighth-grader Avery Voss; Eighth-grader Scarlet Wagner; Seventh-grader Lola Bieniek; Seventh-grader Mylah Linn-Christianso; Seventh-grader Tori Quarberg and Seventh-grader Lydia Rydbom.
“We are super excited to have our largest team roster in program history along with our largest Varsity Kick, Varsity Jazz, JV Kick, and B-Squad Jazz teams,” said Olson. “We are looking forward to competing against the majority of AA teams in Minnesota as we will travel to seven different invites across the state this season.”
Olson says her team always enjoys having the opportunity to compete against so many quality teams.
“We are also excited to host our fourth annual invite on Mon., Jan. 19, 2026!”
Olson says being able to see this program grow year-after-year has been the most incredible experience to be a part of.
“From a team of nine dancers my first year to now a team of 34, I am so proud of how far we have come,” she said.
Olson says there is nothing more rewarding than having the opportunity to be a leader and role model to the amazing individuals who have chosen to be part of this program.
“I am so thankful to be a part of this team because the culture we have created is full of positivity, inclusion, and fun! We truly are a family,” she said.
Olson’s squad will have two team captains this year. Their senior captain is fifth year team member, Alivia Voss. Their junior captain is fifth year team member, Morgan Panek.
“Both dancers have been on Varsity Kick and Varsity Jazz since their rookie seasons,” said Olson. “We are so excited to have them leading us to another successful season!”
Olson says that with five years of experience at the varsity level, she is confident in their leadership abilities and she is excited for them to have this opportunity as they have been wonderful role models since their very first year on the team.
“In dance, there is strength in numbers which is why we are extra excited to have our largest teams in both Varsity Jazz and Varsity Kick,” said Olson. “We feel equally confident in both.”
Varsity Kick is a team of 20 with 14 Varsity Kick veterans. Varsity Jazz is a team of 12 with six Varsity Jazz veterans.
“We are excited to showcase a ‘true jazz’ team at the Varsity Jazz level and a more ‘hip hop style’ for Varsity Kick,” said Olson. “(Those) are two things we haven’t done since I took over the program in 2018. We are looking forward to bringing something new to the table, and we think fans will be excited to see something completely different than they’re used to!”
